I think this is a truly wonderful film. It centres on the lives of certain families of peasants and their masters in the big house with guards.
For me It is a film that goes to the heart but is not romanticised.
It shows an increasing contrast between the peasants working on the land and the masters who enslave them with fear and set them against each other by using them as guards and spies, robbing them of the food they produce.
It becomes increasingly apparent that the tension involved in keeping power and keeping a mass of people subjugated through greed and ambition or just family tradition, and fear if the hatred unleashed if the subjugated people rebel, is not an easy task and contains the seeds of its own destruction.
In showing this dichotomy between the masters and peasants it does not pretend that all bad traits are with the masters., but for me it goes to the heart because it shows that most people want to live by basic values of 'goodness', or 'godliness', of mutual respect and dignity, where people can grow their food, live, love and bring up there families.
For me, although it takes place in one area and centres on one house of masters, it also stands fir any place at any time in the past, present or future.
Also, at a time when even the word 'muslim culture can be immediately linked to terrorism it is really good to see the ordinary people who just want to live work and love and see their children happy.
The actors are wonderful especially the women.
I think it is wonderful to have the opportunity to see films like this from directors around the world and in the original language.
I will be watching more arabic films and more by this director.